Baggage having magnetic strap inserts

ABSTRACT

Baggage such as a backpack or shoulder bag includes a storage receptacle, a strap extending from the storage receptacle and serving to extend over a carrier&#39;s body to support the storage receptacle, and a permanent magnet attached to the strap in a position at which the strap is to be supported by the carrier&#39;s body in use. The permanent magnet is intended to alleviate muscular aches and pains over prolonged carrying periods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to baggage having magnetic inserts in their straps or other body-bearing areas. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to backpacks, shoulder bags and golf bags having small permanent magnets located in their shoulder straps.

Heavily laden backpacks cause pain to the shoulders and back of the wearer after a prolonged period of carrying. Similarly, heavy shoulder bags and golf bags for example can cause pain across the shoulder blade of the wearer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to substantially alleviate such pain as described above by incorporating permanent magnets in the carry straps and/or other body-bearing parts of baggage.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein baggage comprising:

-   -   a storage receptacle,     -   a strap extending from the storage receptacle and serving to         extend over a carrier's body to support the storage receptacle,         and     -   a permanent magnet attached to the strap in a position at which         the strap is to be supported by the carrier's body in use.

The baggage might be a backpack comprising a pair of said straps each being shoulder straps and having a plurality of said permanent magnets attached to each shoulder trap.

There might be further permanent magnets attached to the storage receptacle for positioning against the back of the carrier in use.

The baggage might be a shoulder bag in which the strap is a shoulder strap having a plurality of said magnets positioned at a mid region thereof.

Alternatively, the baggage might be a golf bag in which the strap is a shoulder strap having a plurality of said magnets attached thereto.

The magnets might be attached to a shoulder pad that can be repositioned along the shoulder strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a backpack having permanent magnets in its shoulder straps and an upper back-engaging surface of its storage receptacle,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of a shoulder bag having permanent magnets fixed within a pad that can be repositioned along its strap, and

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of a golf bag having permanent magnets fixed within a pad that can be repositioned along its shoulder strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a backpack 10 comprising a receptacle 11 into which heavy objects might be stored. The backpack 10 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 12 that extend from a top portion of the receptacle 11 down to respective bottom portions at each opposite side. There is an array of permanent magnets 13 attached to the shoulder-bearing portion of each strap 12 and also to the upper back-bearing portion of the storage receptacle 11. The magnets are provided in an array comprising several rows of magnets 13. The magnets 13 can be secured by adhesive or stitching for example, or might be located beneath the surface. The permanent magnets might be formed like buttons having apertures to enable easy stitching in place.

In FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a shoulder bag 20 having a storage receptacle 11 and a single shoulder strap 12 that passes through a shoulder pad 14 in which the permanent magnets 13 are located. The shoulder pad 14 can be repositioned by sliding along the shoulder strap 12. Again, the permanent magnets 13 are provided in an array comprising several rows.

In FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a golf bag 30 having a shoulder strap 12 extending from its top to its bottom. There is a movable pad 14 comprising an array of permanent magnets 13.

In use, the baggage is carried in a known standard fashion, however the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets extends into the supportive body parts. This magnetic field is believed to provide a therapeutic benefit and is particularly believed to have some beneficial affect on blood flow beneath the surface of the supportive body parts.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present intention. For example, instead of providing button-like permanent magnets, the magnets could be provided as flexible strips somewhat like the permanent magnetic rubber strips in refrigerator door seals and flexible refrigerator stickers. 

1. Baggage comprising: a storage receptacle, a strap extending from the storage receptacle and serving to extend over a carrier's body to support the storage receptacle, and a permanent magnet attached to the strap in a position at which the strap is to be supported by the carrier's body in use.
 2. The baggage of claim 1 being a backpack comprising a pair of said straps each being shoulder straps and having a plurality of said permanent magnets attached to each shoulder strap.
 3. The baggage of claim 2 comprising further permanent magnets attached to the storage receptacle for positioning against the back of the carrier in use.
 4. The baggage of claim 1 and being a shoulder bag in which the strap is a shoulder strap having a plurality of said magnets positioned at a mid region thereof.
 5. The baggage of claim 1 being a golf bag in which the strap is a shoulder strap having a plurality of said magnets attached thereto.
 6. The baggage of claim 4 wherein the magnets are attached to a shoulder pad that can be repositioned along the shoulder strap.
 7. The baggage of claim 5 wherein the magnets are attached to a shoulder pad that can be repositioned along the shoulder strap. 